Health Insurers Could Bypass Some Key Reforms

Washington Post:

Legislators are designing this new insurance marketplace to protect consumers from many of the pitfalls and inequities in the current system. But even as they focus on the details of how the marketplace will work, senators have indicated that they would allow insurers to continue operating outside it, much as the health insurance lobby has sought.

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[Fred Hood]

I'll be da med

[Blasphemy]

But of course there are many loopholes. Anytime something involves the welfare of the American people, there's always a loophole to allow us to get screwed. This is what's wrong with this country. Those we elect to serve make sure everything stays so screwed up that the end product is really a pathetic pile of paper that changes nothing. Why? Europeans are so much more involved in demanding that they have the governments "for the people". It has been said that any new government will fail within 200- 250 years. We are clearly on the way to making the status quo.

[textynn]

OF COURSE there's loopholes. The Insurance Companies wrote the bill. Did you hear Pelosi actually thank them when the bill was rolled out. What a juvenile con job this whole health care fiasco has been. The Elite have found a formula for separating every average person in this country from property and wealth. That's why they would only agree to a poverty upon entry health care system from the government that could stop that arrangement with laws. A government which they apparently control. We have lost our right to hang on to our properties. People are leaving less and less to their kids. In most cases nothing. Who's buying everything. Apparently it's the Elite since they own 98% of this country's wealth.

This health care has been a fight to hang on to a middle class and we have been completely denied. Denied with the HELP and blessing of Pelosi and many many Dems. Stupid country ..taught to be subservient through ridiculous mind bending head trips. Head trips designed to confuse and call upon unquestioned authoritarian practices found in religious and oppressive governments used for centuries. The control mechanisms have been set in place for centuries primarily by the Catholic Church which "cleansed" humanity of some 50 million free and evolved thinkers though torture and execution for over 600 years. WE are being denied health care for all because only losers {sinners} have fallen to such disenfranchisement.

[Rosewren]

I have read every post on this thread and so far I have found only two or three that actually seem to support this bill; a few have taken the position of wait and see what the final bill will be but I don't see how putting together a bad bill and a worse bill is going to add up to good bill. Everyone else is expressing deep disappointment and/or disgust with what we have. I don't think any of our representatives are really listening to us even when we call or write directly as I guess we just don't pay enough to get a good bill.

This scenario has been going on for so many years I think those that say these rep are living in a different world and the few that have stood for something are so demonized and ridiculed like Kucinich from Ohio that they cannot get a foothold anywhere. I don't know what the answer is anymore because so many have drank the koolaid of the republicans that they don't know what the truth is when they hear it and the rest are listening but it is just lies to get into office so they can get on the gravy train too. I think most Americans are positive, patient people but when a system has become so corrupt it doesn't resemble a fair reasonable process it is on a path for a lot of grief and trouble.

[Muruga]

Great post. You're not alone in thinking this way.

[LITU]

Pretty much sums up what I've been saying for many months. This business of something is better than nothing fails to recognize the glee in the eyes of opponents whenever that sentiment is expressed.

They'd like nothing better than for something to get signed into law. At that point we're back to square one.

[wonketteRAWKS]

Or worse.

[rad21]

Are we going through a Healthcare Reform Charade?

Healthcare reform charades have been going-on for the last few decades with innovations like HMO, PPO, Healthcare Home, Medicare Advantage, and a series of band-aid programs here and there to address one subset of the population or another.

With 2.5 Trillion dollars in the honey-pot, it is difficult to keep the bears away. And the big bad bears just muscle their way to take the lion-share; which makes them "too-big-to-fail" players of the system.

[Billie]

I hope Connecticutt takes out Lieberman in the next election.

[buckeyedave]

Big Government, big business and big banks share the same bed. All three depend on each other to exist. We warn you about this, and tell you to put not your faith in any of these. Your response; R@cist Teabagger!

[Billie]

The teabaggers are all mixed up, though. They supported Bush til the end, and still do. We lefties want good responsible government and real healthcare reform, not what the teabaggers want: no government at all doing anything.

[Rayme]

The Teabaggers don't like Bush, they are anti-Big Government. They dislike Bush and they dislike Obama for continuing all of Bush's old policies.

[buckeyedave]

No, we are not mixed up. We recognize each state in the Union as a sovereign state, and believe the central governments powers are few and well defined. The sole reason for the creation of the federal government was for and military defense and the constitution which protects individual liberties. It always is and will be a constant struggle to keep a central government limited to its few powers. For example, research the expansion of the federal governments role in individuals lives in the last 100 years.

[Blasphemy]

When you warn or "educate" someone on something, it helps to have people believe you have an actual point. And, it also helps to have people believe you make sense. You win no hearts by slamming people with common sense. Tea-bagger R@cists, is mild. It's a yard away from the K_K_K.

[LITU]

BTW, when I write that I support Single Payer, I DO NOT support a Medicare-style healthcare program. Medicare is very far removed from socialized medicine in any sense as practiced in dozens of countries.

I support a tax-based universal healthcare program, for every citizen, without the outrageous deductibles or secondary insurance experienced by our seniors and others.

Some of us have actually lived in those horrible socialist countries, and I can tell you, I'd give just about anything to have their system. Americans are avaricious Neanderthals by comparison.

As I've stated before, NO ONE receiving government­-sponsored healthcare would change places with an American. How arrogant are we to think otherwise.

[buckeyedave]

No freedom loving Americans would trade in their freedom for healthcare.

[LITU]

You have a very perverse definition of freedom. How about health freedom? Or doesn't that count? If you bothered to read any of the great information out there for the taking, you'd discover that the most free societies are not housed in the United States of America.

Freedom loving Americans. Now there's the most poorly thought out comment of the day.

[Blasphemy]

Shout out. No one is listening.

[Fred Hood]

some people will cut off their nose to spite their face.......we have the worste health care in the world.....and you say cool

[buckeyedave]

Is it too early to say, "we told you so"

[Blasphemy]

Is it to late t tell you to get an education?

[pup sydney]

we already are in complete corporate fascism and Bo can't do anything by himself

[Billie]

But it can get much much worse. I really think the teabaggers had the right to be frightened but they are directing their anger at the wrong target. and for the wrong reasons. For all their racism and wingnuttiness, lefties should take to the streets to help Obama help us get our government back. We need a new American revolution. Corporations are the new British

[Rayme]

Right on. I went to Target today, didn't buy anything, but there were tons of people buying crap and I do mean crap because they didn't have anything that I wanted due to lack of quality.

[Rosewren]

Do you really think Obama would help? He is the one that took single payer off the table immediately and made a deal with pharma before congress had really gotten started. We may have been a lot closer if he had not done that.

[Billie]

What really worries me is the expansion of this current government, which is a bunch of marionettes doing the bidding of corporations. This could get even more ruthless at an increased pace. Even with the best of intentions, if Obama can't deliver our nation back to a democracy, then I believe we are going to enter into a chilling era of naked corporate fascism

[Billie]

What a shocker! Really, who didn't know that as long as politicians need to get permission from corporations on healthcare that everything to do with the bill is riddled with loopholes so the fiends can continue getting rich off the sick

[WritusMaximus]

No surprise. Millions of folks continue to hold their noses as they vote for the insurance companies/­corporatio­ns' politicians, expecting that same old same old to change.

The preceding Aha! moment has been brought to you by How To Screw Yourself. Pick up a copy at your favorite bookstore.

[Billie]

You are so right, Writus! Most of the politicians seek office for the status and money, not to be honorable public servants. I think Obama is the real deal but it is like he trying to ward off a tidal wave with a sword.

[theycallthewindmariah]

I'm assuming you live a life that is free of corporations and do nothing to increase their profit. Since HuffPo is a corporation itself, or a subsidiary, and makes revenues probably by the number of clicks on a page where ads are, I assume you will soon stop clicking?

[PaxEterna]

. . . ah what a tale of twisted lies the government weaves . . .

meanwhile THEY get theirs, courtesy of the US taxpayer, and we get, exactly WHAT?

[WritusMaximus]

Folks, accept the fact that we live in a corporatetocracy. Once you do, everything that happened, happens, and will continue to happen will all make sense to all of you people. All of your doubts/questions would disappear overnight, replaced by a feeling of contentment now that you know how it all works!